Made with Fairtrade Cotton
LET ’ S TALK ABOUT FAIRTRADE
We could go on and on about Fairtrade . It ’ s that amazing , and we ’ re delighted about the fact that Cottover is able to contribute . In short , Fairtrade is an international certification of raw materials grown in countries with widespread poverty . The certification means that the product is produced in accordance with high social , economic and environmental standards . But Fairtrade is so much more , always protecting the people behind the products .
Approximately one quarter of the world ’ s working population is employed in agriculture , and it ’ s in this category that Fairtrade has its focus . Behind the products we consume on a daily basis there are people who grow and produce goods such as coffee , bananas , wine and the cotton in the clothes we wear . Different criteria have been developed for farmers in cooperatives , employees on plantations and for different raw materials . All criteria focus on man .
Fair conditions for all
All human beings have the right to fair conditions at work and in life . You , me and everyone else . An important part of Fairtrade ’ s work is to ensure that both farmers and employees can lift themselves out of poverty , and thereby improve their working and living conditions . Helping people to help themselves , one might say .
By bringing farmers together in Fairtrade-certified cooperatives so that they can sell their cotton collectively , they gain access to a larger international market with the potential for increased sales . They also receive a minimum price for the raw material , which acts as a safety net for the farmer when the world market price is low .
Today , millions of children work instead of going to school , because their parents ’ income is simply not enough to support their families . At the same time , we know that education is one of the most important factors in reducing poverty . With higher incomes , children can actually go to school .
The sale of the raw material also generates a premium for the farmers , which is often used to build schools . The premium can also be used for business investments or community development projects , such as health care , education , improved infrastructure and conversion to organic farming .
The tough cotton industry
The industry for cotton farmers is tough and millions of small-scale farmers in countries with widespread poverty depend on cotton for their livelihood .
The cotton flower grows on shrubs that thrive in dry climates , where there is a natural shortage of water , creating a moment 22 as conventional cotton cultivation usually requires large amounts of water . In addition to water , large amounts of pesticides and fertilizers are required . As you can see , conventionally grown cotton wears hard on both people and the environment .
Cotton prices have fallen sharply on the world market in recent decades , and today the price of cotton is a third of what it was in 1980 . As a result , growers and workers are less able to support themselves and their families . But Fairtrade is making a difference , through the minimum prices and premiums we described earlier , among other things . The Fairtrade premium can be used to advantage to invest in drip irrigation , which can save up to 70 % of the water consumption .
Primarily , Fairtrade certified cotton is produced in India , where Cottover ’ s cotton comes from . Individual growers cannot become Fairtrade certified , only cooperatives , and the cotton is usually grown in small family farms . In addition to the minimum price and premium , Fairtrade also has clear rules on the handling of chemicals and requires health promotion measures for everyone in the cooperative . Fairtrade criteria also encourage long-term trading relationships that secure sales , and therefore income , over time .
For people and the environment
Is Fairtrade and organic the same thing ? No , it is not , although they are often interlinked . Fairtrade ’ s main focus is poverty alleviation and working conditions - which means the people behind the product . Several environmental requirements must also be met , such as water efficiency and a ban on genetically modified organisms ( GMOs ). Growing organically focuses on the environment , but is often better for the farmer as well , as it means less use of chemical pesticides .
A majority of Fairtrade-certified cotton farmers are also organically certified . The uniqueness of Fairtrade certification is that it ensures that farmers are actually paid better , which organic certification does not guarantee . Dual certification - Fairtrade and organic - covers both aspects . All the cotton in Cottover ’ s collection is certified under both Fairtrade and GOTS , which means that it ’ s organic . However , only the best is good enough , which is why Cottover is also certified according to the Svanen and Oeko-Tex - simply to cover as many sustainability aspects as possible throughout the production chain .
Choose Fairtrade and make a difference
If you ask yourself why you as a consumer should choose to buy Fairtrade , the answer is that it ’ s a simple way for you to make a difference to another human being . By choosing Fairtrade-labelled products , you help to improve the working and living conditions of those who grow and produce the goods you consume daily . In addition , you contribute to more children having the opportunity to go to school instead of being forced to work . If you ask us , that sounds like a good thing for the future .
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